Friday, February 22, 2008

Turkey's military said the land offensive had fighter aircraft in support. Turkish TV said 3,000 to 10,000 soldiers had entered Iraq, though Iraq's foreign minister denied it was a major operation, saying only a few hundred troops were involved.

The European Union repeated its call for Turkey, which is seeking EU membership, to refrain from any disproportionate military action. Britain urged Ankara to leave Iraqi territory as early as possible and Washington also raised concerns.

The EU and Britain are actively discouraging this ground invasion. The U.S., meanwhile, has nothing of significance to say.

A senior U.S. official said on Friday that a Turkish land incursion into northern Iraq to attack Kurdish separatist guerrillas was "not the greatest news".

"A land operation is a whole new level," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza told reporters in Brussels, responding to media reports of a ground assault on suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Not the greatest news.

Yeah, we had figured that part out.

What are you going to do about it, Mr. Bryza? Madam Secretary? Mr. President? Anybody?

1 comments:

Turkey has just sent troops into Iraq without authorisation - this should be a clear declaration of war against Iraq, and by implication America.

But as neither Iraq nor America want a war with Turkey, they really have only one option: Denial. Nope, no troops there. If there were turkish troops that would mean war, therefore there are no turkish troops.